Garden gnomes.  Are they cute or whimsical or just a waste of space?  I for one, think they are adorable and should grace any garden.  They have been around for centuries some literature date them back to the 1600’s but they didn’t hit mainstream until German 1800’s.

Phillip Griebel popularized these mythical creatures in Germany back in the 1800’s by making sculptures out of terra cotta.  Depending on the lore gnomes were either beneficial or mischievous in the garden.  They are said to be active at night helping with garden chores and then turn back into stone with daylight.

Gnomes have move into mainstream media with commercials and Harry Potter series of books.  Some neighbors have had their gnomes “kidnaped” and then postcards start showing up with them on their adventures.  However, I would avoid taking your neighbors gnome – people have been arrested for theft.

Regardless, gnomes are a fun tradition that would grace any garden.  Place them slightly hidden in the foliage so they are a fun surprise for garden visitors to see.

Scott Evans

Scott Evans is a horticulture assistant with Nebraska Extension in Douglas-Sarpy Counties. A certified arborist through International Society of Arboirculture and Nebraska Arborist Association. Scott is also Tree Risk Assessment Qualified through ISA. Scott co-leads the Master Gardener program in Douglas & Sarpy counties. Along with volunteer management he provides his expertise with disease and insect identification, lawn and landscape weed management, plant health, and I.P.M. practices. He also enjoys growing many houseplants ranging from African violets to cacti and succulents. Scott has two Bachelors of Science, one in Biology (emphasis in Botany, Ecology and Environmental Science) and second in Environmental Geology from Northwest Missouri State University. He earned his Master of Agriculture from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.